Updated 08/2020
Introduction
For individuals who only need one shoe, there are many organizations that accept donations of single shoes in good condition and that may be able to assist in locating single shoes as well. There are also certain retailers that offer single shoes for sale. See the lists below to find out how you can donate to and/or benefit from these programs.
The contents of the following websites are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Amputee Coalition. No Amputee Coalition endorsement is implied.
Nonprofit Organizations and Exchanges
The nonprofit organizations listed below accept donations of shoes and, in some cases, gifts of money that allow them to continue to benefit people in need. Each listing contains information on how to donate, along with instructions for how to benefit from these organizations if you are looking for shoes. For more information, call the organization or visit their website.
Retailers Selling Single/Mismatched Shoes
Unlike the organizations above, some for-profit retailers sell single or mismatched shoes, sometimes for a discounted price. Please see below for information about pricing, and how to contact these companies.
Recycle Your Unused Shoes
Do you have shoes that are too worn-out to donate? Nike developed the Reuse-A-Shoe program in the 1990s to collect old, worn-out athletic shoes for recycling. The idea is to transform the recycled shoes, along with pre-consumer shoe waste, into Nike Grind: a material used to create athletic and playground surfaces and more. Industry-leading sports and playground surfacing companies use Nike Grind to manufacture high-performance athletic surfaces such as tennis and basketball courts, running tracks, athletic fields, and playgrounds. Additionally, Nike has discovered innovative uses for Nike Grind in various footwear and apparel products.
You can drop off athletic shoes of any brand for recycling. There are two ways you can recycle your shoes through the Nike Reuse-A-Shoe program:
- Bring up to 10 pairs of shoes to any Reuse-A-shoe collection location, which can be found at most Nike and Converse retail stores.
- You can mail your shoes directly to Nike’s recycling facility. Nike cannot pay for shipping costs, and to ensure that the shipping and collection of shoes doesn’t negatively offset the environmental benefit of recycling, they encourage you to drop off your shoes at a drop off point if possible.
It is not the intention of the Amputee Coalition to provide specific medical or legal advice but rather to provide consumers with information to better understand their health and healthcare issues. The Amputee Coalition does not endorse any specific treatment, technology, company, service or device.
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